China and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Cholpon-Ata on Saturday, adding that both countries are committed to building a China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future.

During a meeting with Wang in the resort town of Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov said his country always cherishes the friendship with China and sincerely appreciates China's firm support and valuable help in safeguarding the Central Asian country's sovereign security, accelerating economic development and improving people's livelihood.

Kyrgyzstan will continue to stand firmly with China on all issues concerning China's core interests, the president added.

Wang said China will continue to firmly support Kyrgyzstan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, resolutely oppose any interference in Kyrgyzstan's internal affairs, and will always be a trustworthy and reliable partner of Kyrgyzstan.

On Saturday, the Chinese foreign minister also held talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart Jeenbek Kulubaev over further strengthening relations between the two countries.

Wang vowed to jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. He said that China will firmly support all measures taken by Kyrgyzstan to safeguard national sovereignty, security and social stability, and firmly oppose external interference in its internal affairs.

Both countries support the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative. China and Kyrgyzstan will work together to promote stability and development of central Asia and oppose attempts to create instability and division in the region. 

Both sides regarded the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad project as an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Wang said Chinese experts have arrived in Kyrgyzstan and the construction process has begun. Both sides will also accelerate the building of major livelihood projects in Kyrgyzstan such as water channels and regional and municipal road networks. 

Both countries have agreed to open new border crossings to facilitate the smooth flow of people and goods and foster new growth points in agriculture, e-commerce, cross-border payment and green energy to create a "Green Silk Road." 

China will build the Luban Workshop in Kyrgyzstan to train more outstanding technical talents to foster the development of Kyrgyzstan, Wang added. 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kyrgyzstan.

(Cover: Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov (R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, July 30, 2022. /CGTN)